UK Tier 2 work permits allocated

According to the UK Border Agency (UKBA), the certificates were allocated on April 11th and all valid applications received by April 6th with a minimum score of 32 points have been successful.

April marked the first month of the new permanent limit on migration through the Tier 2 work permit route.

Details of future monthly allocations are available from UK immigration officials but April saw 4,200 certificates of sponsorship for Tier 2 work permits made available. Of these, 1,028 were granted, meaning that 3,172 can be carried over to May's balance.

The news comes as UK immigration minister Damian Green has been answering to questions from the public regarding migration.

In response to one such query regarding the high number of "talented migrants in the UK with high earnings and exceptional qualifications", Mr Green said that the UK wants people with "high quality and high quality jobs coming to this country and staying in this country".

However, he suggested that migrants who had come to Britain through the old Tier 1 route are not in fact in highly-skilled positions.

As such, only people with valid job offers in a desirable sector will now be permitted to enter the country through this method, the UK immigration minister remarked.